Manhattan Women's Club

This post is about the MWC going to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular on Thursday, December 5th.  This is a combo event / ticket with a backstage tour at 3 pm and  the stage show is at 5pm.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A CYNICAL NEW YORKER:  It’s not uncommon for those of us who live here to sometimes scoff at tourists – those venturesome people who come to New York to step out of their comfort zones and prepared to blow a significant amount of their savings.   The ultimate NY-diss is to say something is “just for tourists.”  But, you know what – not knowing to be cynical, those very same tourists often experience some of the best our city has to offer – things that locals too often turn up their noses at.    Sometimes it’s a really great idea to be a tourist in our own City but – better yet – be one with time to spare who can avoid crowds and maybe even get a deal.

So, WE’RE GOING TO BE TOURISTS …. and be tourists taking in one of the most famous activities on offer:  THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR !  The recommendation for locals is to see it at least every ten years or so – because not only do you get to take in one of the true architectural masterpieces of this City (Radio City Music Hall) you’ll also take in one of the largest, most opulent,  over-the-top, silliest, and most traditional of entertainments in the world.  Yes, this is the whole enchilada – with high-kicking Rockettes, the ultra-precision formations of the Toy Soldiers (still wearing the costumes designed by Vincente Minnelli), 140 performers, an original musical score, lavish sets and spectacular costumes.  Since 1933, this is what over a million people come to NY to see every year.  It’s a real cultural mash-up and, honestly, it’s so nutty that you just have to laugh.  And get in the Christmas spirit.

But it gets better … by thinking about this now it is possible to also take the Radio City Music Hall’s Backstage Tour right before the performance.   Which is great because it will also fit in with one of our upcoming themes for this Fall, a series of “Behind the Scenes” events and activities.  Independent of the Christmas show, the backstage tour is one of the most popular tourist activities in NYC – and taking the tour right before seeing the stage show seems particularly fun.

Oh yeah – we DO live here and we DO want a deal.  So thanks to our very own MWC impresario, Jeanne Joyce, who has done exactly this sort of organizing for various groups in NYC over the years – we are intending to book the tickets and tour at a substantial discount.  Tickets for the tour and the show will be $70. each.

DETAILS:  A Crowdtilt link for this event will be sent to all MWC members.  We have reserved a block of tickets but are hoping we will be able to get more. This is scheduled for Thursday, December 5th  – the backstage tour is at 3pm and the show is at 5 pm and the tickets will be $70 each.   Family is welcome.  The Crowdtilt deadline will be very soon – JUNE 26th – so don’t sit on this or it will pass you by.  There will be a bit of time between the tour and the show – in case you want to run out and check out the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree which will have been lit just the day before !

This post is about an activity to try New York City’s brand new bike sharing program on Wednesday, June 26th, by getting bikes near the West Side highway (near the lovely traffic-free bike lanes along the river) and heading downtown to park them – and grab lunch at one of the food trucks in Battery Park City.

WHO WOULDA THUNK?  - Yes, who would have ever imagined that the latest addition to NYC’s transportation infrastructure isn’t some new futuristic, whizzy-whiz, techie effort but instead  a huge fleet of velocipedes … oops, bicycles.  Already rooted in NYC lexicon as ”Mike Bikes” in “honor” of our mayor, the specially developed bicycle itself (see below) is a sturdy, workman-like vehicle of homely virtues:  spatter-guards, cushy seats, supposedly puncture-resistant tires and 3 speeds. Continue reading →

YEARN FOR SUMMER CAMP? –  Pretty soon now you’ll start seeing mountains of duffel bags piled in front of buildings getting picked up and shipped to camps.  Stores are  advertising “camp specials” and the waiting room at the doctor’s office is filled with kids getting their shots.   It’s hard not to feel a wee bit of envy towards the many fortunate ones heading off for parts unknown undertaking that seasonal ritual to make the most of the Summer.  Almost all their time spent outdoors.  Singing silly songs.  Learning (again) how to use a bow and arrow and make woven bracelets out of that strange brightly colored, flat, plastic string.  And trying new things. Continue reading →

CALLING ALL HOUSE SNOOPS :   Maybe it’s the concept of Spring-cleaning, maybe it’s being home in a season of great weather before heading off to vacation locales, maybe it’s that after having gotten the house gussied up for the Spring holidays it’s fun to show it off a bit …. well, whatever the reason, Spring is House Tour time !   And New York is no different from any other community and has them just like any other town in America.  Of course, what’s different here is that the housing stock is pretty unique to this location, our neighborhoods are quite varied from one another and, in many cases, the housing stock is world-class fabulous.  So, if you’re inclined, house tours offer a great opportunity to explore other neighborhoods in a truly intimate way.  You get a feel for the housing, the neighborhood, who lives there – and who’s considering living there.  Continue reading →

This post is to say:  if you’re a mother, if you had a mother, if your friend or sister is a mother… HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY !   Continue reading →